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Amorfix Life Sciences' test detects scrapie prions in bllod ofg scrapie-infected sheep

29 Oct 2007 - Amorfix Life Sciences announced the results from the testing of a blinded panel of blood samples from scrapie infected sheep. Amorfix correctly identified 18 out of 20 individual sheep blood samples in a blinded panel provided by an independent third-party laboratory, the Caine Veterinary Teaching Center, University of Idaho.
 
"These initial results demonstrate the ability of our diagnostic technology to identify endogenous prions which is important for the commercialization of our variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (vCJD) diagnostic blood test," said Dr. George Adams, CEO of Amorfix Life Sciences. "These data plus additional results that we will generate will be included in the regulatory submission of a self-declared CE mark for the commercialization of the EP-vCJD(tm) test. Moreover, while the EP-vCJD(tm) test is our lead diagnostic candidate, these results present a new commercial opportunity for the testing of all sheep and selective removal of infected animals."
 
Amorfix correctly scored 11 out of 12 positive samples and 7 out of 8 negative samples. It is unknown if all sheep with scrapie have endogenous prions in their blood. At present there is no effective blood diagnostic test that can identify scrapie prions in sheep, according to the company.